Sienna Betts, Grandview battle way past Highlands Ranch to clinch berth in Final 4
While Grandivew’s prolific sophomore Sienna Betts had four chances to shut the door from the free- throw line, she was unable to do so.
The No. 4 seed Wolves’ defense held its own, however. The reigning champions survived a late surge Saturday against No. 3 seed Highlands Ranch in a 57- 53 win at the Denver Coliseum to advance to the Class 6A Final 4.
Betts, the sister of Stanford freshman Lauren, did more than enough to keep her team alive with a 23- point, 15- rebound performance. Perhaps uncoincidentally, 15 was the rebounding margin in favor of the Wolves.
“I didn’t really care but knew I had to move on and was like, ‘ I missed, whatever. We gotta win this game,’ ” Betts said about her free throws down the stretch.
The Falcons ( 22- 4) put a strong fourth- quarter run together. They made nine 3- pointers on the afternoon, including four in the fourth quarter to trim an eight- point deficit to one with 3: 38 remaining.
“The key was, we were trying to take away the 3- point line and take care of the basketball,” Wolves head coach Josh Ulitzky said. “Credit to Highlands Ranch, they made it tough.”
Betts came through with her post work and added five assists, including a pair late in the fourth quarter. While this Wolves program isn’t new to the Final 4 stage, a number of players weren’t on last year’s titlewinning team.
It’s why Betts is telling her teammates to embrace the moment.
“This year, we’re going into it totally differently, as we’ve got so many new girls on the team,” she said. “We’re going into it as if every game together is a blessing and
we’re heading into it as, ‘ Let’s do the best we can do, keep fighting and keep growing.’ “
Grandview will play No. 2 Cherry Creek on Friday.
NO. 8 ARAPAHOE 62, NO. 1 VALOR CHRISTIAN 54 >>
It took all of one minute for Emily Thomas to send a message.
Defending Valor Christian star Macey Huard underneath the hoop, the Arapahoe senior got her hands on top of the ball and tossed Huard to the floor with such force the thud could be felt courtside.
The gritty, physical play was just the beginning. And while Huard still toughed out a game- high 32 points and 13 rebounds on 11- of- 20 shooting, the Warriors’ dogged defense didn’t allow anything easy in pulling off a stunning upset of the top seed in Class 6A.
Gianna Smith scored nine of her
team- high 24 points in the third quarter to help turn a 32- 28 halftime deficit into a 43- 41 edge going into the fourth. Sydney White added 16 points, including an andone reverse lay- in that gave Arapahoe the lead for good with 5: 17 left, and the Warriors sank 12 of 17 free throws in the final 4: 21 to avenge last year’s Final 4 loss to Valor.
“We weren’t super happy with our seeding coming out, and we just knew we had to prove everyone wrong and show them that we shouldn’t have been an eight seed,” said Thomas, who did it all with four points, nine rebounds, five assists and two blocks.
“We wanted it so badly and we knew that was a game that we could only win on defense, so we just put our ( butts) on the line for each other.”
The Warriors ( 20- 6) took care of the ball on the offensive end ( five turnovers) while forcing the Eagles into enough mistakes ( 12 turnovers) on the other end to negate a 34- 23 rebounding advantage for Valor.
The loss ended a string of three straight Final 4 appearances for Valor ( 22- 3). Arapahoe will face No. 4 Monarch in next Friday’s Final 4 at Denver Coliseum.
NO. 4 MONARCH 60, NO. 12 REGIS JESUIT 44 >>
Coming back from a 13- point deficit at the Coliseum can seem almost an insurmountable task for many teams.
Not the No. 4 Monarch girls, who rode a second- quarter scoring boom and took it all the way to a victory over Regis Jesuit. It’s the first time Monarch will play in a Final 4 in eight seasons.
Monarch ( 25- 1) avenged its only loss of the season, which was against the Raiders ( 17- 9). Monarch was led by Amelia Rosin, who finished with a double- double, 16 points and 13 rebounds. Three other Coyotes finished in double- figures as point guard Natalie Guanella had 14 points, including an emphatic and- one to close out the third quarter, while both Arezo Safi and Hayley Luther each had 13.
NO. 2 CHERRY CREEK 48, NO. 7 DOHERTY 35>>
It took three quarters for Doherty to find its offense in the girls’ nightcap. By then, it was way too late.
Braelynn Barnett punished the Spartans in the paint with 16 points and 11 rebounds, A’neya Chambers added 13 points and four blocks, and the Bruins ( 22- 4) advanced to the Final 4 for the first time since 2020.
Suffocated by the Creek defense to the tune of 27.9% shooting and single- digit scoring in each of the first three quarters, Doherty spent all night a step behind the Bruins. Addy Beck’s 3- pointer at the halftime buzzer gave Creek a 22- 13 lead.